REMINISCENCE AS AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL MEMORY - A CATALYST FOR REMINISCENCETHEORY DEVELOPMENT

Research on the psychological outcomes of reminiscence techniques has led to equivocal findings. The goal of this paper is to advance curren t theory guiding research on reminiscence by examining the implication s of viewing reminiscence as a type of autobiographical memory. Butler 's classic paper on reminiscence as 'life review' (1963) is examined, and revisions to this approach are proposed based on research and theo ry concerning autobiographical memory. Specifically, the process of re miniscence is delineated through a discussion of the partially reconst ructive nature of autobiographical memory and the relation of memory t o the self. These developments are then used to predict the types of p sychological outcomes that can be expected to result from reminiscence , and the types of reminiscence techniques that can be expected to lea d to the distinct outcomes of self-acceptance and self-change. Linking the literatures on reminiscence techniques and autobiographical memor y also provides a catalyst for future theoretical and empirical work.